Fall 2015 21W.

011: Introductory Exercise

Name

WRITE FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. USE BACK IF NECESSARY.

People address contemporary social problems, such as homelessness, climate change and
gender inequality in a variety of ways, e.g., running for office, campaigning and voting for
candidates and parties, forming social movement and nonprofit organizations, protesting
individually and collectively, volunteering for causes and donating time, resources and
money/fundraising.

Why WRITE about social and ethical issues/problems such as poverty, homelessness,
climate change or ethnic/racial discrimination?

What are the benefits for the writer?

What are the benefits for readers?

Note: After completing this exercise, students will discuss these questions in pairs for 5-7
minutes. After this short discussion, each person will introduce his/her partner to the class based
on this exercise.
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21W.011 Writing and Rhetoric: Rhetoric and Contemporary Issues

Fall 2015

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